grade 7 student guide

Student Information: Grade 7 Social Studies

Much like grade six, when you are in grade seven, you are asked to become responsible and active citizens in a Canadian context. By exploring the past and the present, you, as students, will be asked to critically assess and analyze the society we live in today. Grade seven is a more analytical and challenging level of learning than grade six. Because of this, it is important that your parents are actively engaged in your learning and education. Moreover, make sure you talk with your parents, every day, about your schoolwork and what you have learned. It is proven that people learn more and knowledge is engrained more thoroughly when the information learned in school is connected with everyday life. So ask your parents to tell stories from their life about the things you have learned in class and become actively engaged in education. You will definitely benefit from this. Finally, make sure your parents keep in touch with your teacher about everything. This includes your in-class accomplishments and positive transitions in the classroom! As students, it is immensely important to be positive towards your learning and open to all of the new and different ways of exploring the Canadian context. Moreover, knowing that this is a new way you are expected to learn, don’t be afraid to ask questions and understand that you may struggle at first. This is not failure, its change. It is important to maintain a positive self-image to want to continue learning and be up to new experiences and learning opportunities! 

            In grade seven, the overview of the curriculum is on the events before and after Canada becoming a country in 1867. These heritage based lessons focus on how Canada was formed, and how it became the bilingual, pluralistic, and multicultural society it is today. As a student, you will be asked to gain an understanding, and appreciation, of the distinct roles of the aboriginal, francophone, and Anglophone people in the foundations of Canada. One of the main differences between grade six and seven is that you are asked to critically assess and analyze, compare and contrast, societies, economies, and social structures of both before, and after, the confederation of Canada. The grade seven program of studies has distinct expectations for the you to reach under the category of “Dimensions of Thinking”. These four categories include critical and creative thinking to determine how reliable information is based on context, bias (a personal viewpoint), source, and evidence to broaden understanding. Furthermore, there are expected outcomes in historical thinking, geographic thinking, and problem solving; to be able to become social participants in the Canadian democratic process. Grade seven focuses on the heritage of Canada, how it was formed, and how this connects to the democratic and responsible society we live in today. As grade seven students, it is important to keep an open mind, embrace the learning and connect everyday knowledge with the academic process of the classroom. 

Useful links: 

http://www.learnalberta.ca/ProgramOfStudy.aspx?lang=en&ProgramId=564423#999963

www.2learn.ca/teens

  

Student Transitions: grade 6-7 (parents guide)

Grade 8 Student Guide

Student Information: Grade 8 Social Studies

            As you leave grade 7 and enter into grade 8, the most important thing to do is begin making a greater effort to become responsible and active citizens. Grade eight focuses on issues related to contact and interactions between societies with different world views. Furthermore, as students, you will be asked to analyze the lives of citizens living in different times and different places. Through this, you will be asked to reflect on your own worldviews and assess how these views might have influenced the past and present. The grade eight curriculum focuses on three different cultures throughout history. Firstly, on Japan, which FACTSnet Alberta is striving to integrate more thoroughly into Alberta schools. The Alberta Program of studies asks/expects thorough understanding of nine different questions dealing with Japanese culture, isolationism, and ideological beliefs of the Meiji era. Influences from Japanese culture are everywhere in our society. Therefore, FACTSnet strives to make more engaging and active integration of Japanese knowledge in your classrooms, and push away from the Eurocentric style of teaching that has often been taught in school. By examining Japan, you as a student will be asked to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of different life values, knowledge and beliefs, and worldviews, adding to your roles as responsible and active citizens. Moreover, you will learn to appreciate these values and world views to understand Japans isolation and adaptation in that time period.

After Japan, the Alberta Social Studies curriculum will focus on Renaissance Europe. Here, you, as a student, will be asked to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how the exchange of ideas and knowledge attributed to shaping the worldview of the western world. After Renaissance Europe, your classrooms will explore the Spanish and Aztec societies. Here, you will be asked to explore and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how intercultural contact and conflict can affect the worldview of societies in a present context. Moreover, in the Spanish and Aztec section of the curriculum, you will explore how cultural differences can insight conflict and intercultural disputes. Overall, the overview of the grade eight Social Studies curriculum is to analyze how contact between societies leads to significant change, conflict, and alters society’s worldview.

            The grade eight program of studies has distinct expectations for the you to reach under the category of “Dimensions of Thinking”. These four categories include critical and creative thinking to determine the validity and reliability of information based on context. This means that you should be able to analyze the information you are given, and argue why it is true or false. Next, you will be asked to understand bias, source, objectivity, and evidence to broaden understanding. From this, the program of study expects you as students to understand what you read in the textbook, or from the internet, or stories from people, may be particular to that source, and therefore one point of view of the information. It is important in every grade forward, to use these ‘dimensions of thinking’ to broaden your understanding, as well as become responsible and active citizens. On top of these ‘dimensions of thinking’, there are expected outcomes in historical thinking, geographic thinking, and problem solving; to be able to become social participants in the democratic process and conflict resolution. Grade eight focuses on the context of differing worldviews, how these views are expressed in different times and different places, and how this connects to the democratic and responsible society we live in today.

 As grade eight students, it is important to keep an open mind, embrace the learning and connect everyday knowledge with the academic process of the classroom

           

Useful Links:

Alberta/Japan Network 

http://www.learnalberta.ca/ProgramOfStudy.aspx?lang=en&ProgramId=564423#

www.2learn.ca/teens

Grade 10 Student Guide

Student Information: Grade 10 Social Studies

As you leave middle school, and enter into the ‘senior High School’ system, it is important to make a dedicated effort to find yourself, and who you want to be as a citizen in today’s world. The purpose of Social studies, now more than ever before, is to promote a sense of belonging and understanding of both yourself and the world around you. Social studies promotes the creation of active and responsible citizens on every level. At the heart of Alberta’s grade 10 Social Studies program is the creation of the Canadian Identity on a global context. Therefore, when entering grade 10, it is important to focus on the multiple perspectives of those around you, as well as how your voice in this world can make a definite impact. When entering into Social Studies in grade 10, you should have made a decision about what ‘stream’ of classes you would like to take, and had your previous teacher approve the choice. You can either be enrolled into 10-1, 10-2, or 10-4. Between these streams of Social Studies, there is a difference between the level of analysis and exploration of the same topic matters. Depending on deep thinking, on your ability to critically analyze situations, you will choose and flourish in any of the streams you choose. 

The main purpose of grade 10 Social Studies is an exploration on different perspectives of Globalization. Moreover, you, as a grade 10 student will analyze the origins of globalization and the local, national, and international impacts of globalization on lands, cultures, economies, human rights and quality of life. On top of this, there will be an focus on Aboriginal, francophone and multicultural perspectives, as the Alberta Program of studies dictates. Furthermore, the grade 10 Social Studies is broken down into 4 distinctive but interrelated key concepts. First, you as a student will explore the impact of globalization on your own life by analyzing your personal belief of the following question: to what extent should globalization shape identity? Next, by exploring the historical legacies of globalization, you will be asked to assess the impacts of historical globalization on Indigenous and Non- Indigenous peoples.  Afterwards, the economic, environmental and contemporary impacts of globalization will be critically analyzed by your grade 10 class, answering the question: To what extent does globalization contribute to sustainable prosperity for all people? This question is pivotal to your understanding of responsible citizenship and responsible global partnerships. It is important to see these concepts as a map for you to be positive impacts on the world we live in. From this, you as a student will assess your own roles and responsibilities in globalization and as a citizen in general.

All and all, you as a student will be on a path to assess and understand your role as a citizen, as a student, and as a future member of the economy. Moreover, you gain new skills of research, of understanding, and of exploration, that can only better you as a student, and as a responsible citizen.

Useful links:

http://www.learnalberta.ca/ProgramOfStudy.aspx?lang=en&ProgramId=564423#

http://education.alberta.ca/media/445715/srpub.pdf

and for parents, please refer to:

            Student Transitions: grade 9-10

           

Social Studies Overview

The Alberta Social Studies Network is aimed at both providing students with an understanding of what to expect from the Alberta Social Studies program, as well as ease the stress of embarking on a new grade. Each post will have useful information for students and parents to assess in order to have a better grasp on the next year of schooling.
Attached to each of the posts will be useful links to other FACTSnet resources such as our Alberta Japan Network, Parents as coaches Network, and more.

For an overview of the Social Studies Alberta Program of Studies rational please click on:

 Parents/Students Social Studies Overview

Christmas Around the World (Alberta Grade 3)

Christmas is a great time to compare traditions and beliefs in Alberta and the various counties studied in grade 3 see  Alberta Grade 3 Social Studies Network Introduction

The suggestions mentioned below relate to the following specific curriculum guide questions.

• What are the traditions, celebrations, stories and practices in the communities that connect
  the people to the past and to each other (e.g., language spoken, traditions, customs)? 
• How is identity reflected in traditions, celebrations, stories and customs in the
  communities?  

Suggestions:

1. For countries like Ukraine and Peru, you could look at Christmas traditions there in comparison to Alberta, especially Ukrainian Christmas.
2. For countries like India and Tunisia you could compare the nativity narratives (Luke 1-2) from a easy to read version of the Bible (see Link)  with Islamic stories about the birth of Jesus see Jesus in Islam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia  The Matthew narrative (Matt 1-2) is likely not referred to in Islam.
3. See  Christmas Suggestions for Alberta Schools for various Christmas traditions, especially those written up in our local history books. 
4. Take a field trip to a major Christmas event like Bethlehem Walk Edmonton.
5. In addition watch a nativity video like: The Birth of Jesus by 4Glory2him.

Make a comment to this post with your own suggestions. 

Alberta Grade 3 Social Studies Network Introduction

The following quotes from Social Studies, Kindergarten to Grade 3 will be used to introduce the network.  Links to network topics will be presented below the quotes.

General Outcome 3.1:  Communities in the World
Students will demonstrate an understanding and
appreciation of how geographic, social, cultural
and linguistic factors affect quality of life in
communities in India, Tunisia, Ukraine and Peru.

General Outcome 3.2:  Global Citizenship
Students will demonstrate an understanding and
appreciation of Canada’s roles and responsibilities
in global citizenship in relationship to
communities in India, Tunisia, Ukraine and Peru.

Specific Outcomes: Values and Attitudes:
3.1.1 Students will appreciate similarities and differences among people and communities:
• demonstrate an awareness of and interest in the beliefs, traditions and customs of groups
and communities other than their own.

Priority links: 

1.  Christmas Around the World (Alberta Grade 3)

Grade 4 Specifics

Use historical and community resources to understand and organize the sequence of local historical events